"David, thank you so much for taking us out." Jason was beaming from ear to ear as he and Laura took pictures with their catch. He had landed a 412 pound Blue Marlin, while Laura was excited with her 120 pound cobia, landing her the new state record. She watched as the crew hurried to unload the countless tuna and dolphin they had caught as well.
"My pleasure Jason, I had just as much fun."
Laura was talking with one of the gentleman about how much fish they would like to keep, and the rest could be sold off. She wasn't paying much attention to the two men. She had been trying to concentrate on the fishing with her father and not so much on David. But as the hours out on the water went by, David and her father had joked and laughed and looked every bit of the closest of friends.
Why wouldn't they? The men were similar in age and had the same interests. With a glance over, Laura groaned seeing them laugh and smack each other on the shoulders. Her father made his way over to her.
"That's my little girl, taking care of the necessities. David is having the taxidermist come claim the marlin and cobia. I'm gonna have them mounted."
"Daddy, that's expensive."
"It's taken care of sweetie. This is a special moment and I want that big fish on my wall to remember it."
She just laughed at him as he pulled her into a hug.
David was watching from his place on the boat. The thought went though his mind that he was a sick ass. A relationship with Laura shouldn't have been sexual, it should have been fatherly. When she had first come to him she was so scared about the gas leak. He had been angry that she could have been seriously hurt or even killed. It was the natural reaction for a man his age over such a young girl. It had been a fatherly reaction. When had he seen her as such a beautiful sexual being? When had he decided to cross the line and have her?
"Thank you David." He hadn't even noticed her walk up. She had that bright wonderful smile. "We had a great time. Thank you so very much."
He was just as shocked when she threw her arms around his waist and hugged him tight.
He just put a hand on her back and hugged her, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Anytime baby girl, I am glad you caught that record. Watching you bring it in was amazing." He laughed, "and that record will stand on my boat as well."
She started laughing, "oh! Feeding off my buffet huh?"
She hadn't let go of her hug, still keeping her arms around him just looking up as she joked with David. Again Jason saw the closeness between the two and it was slightly unsettling. He was trying to put the pieces together. He had learned some about Laura's weeks here and about David and the boy he had met earlier, Jesse. Of course, his daughter had left out many details, but he was filling in some of the pieces.
The younger guy Jesse wanted Laura, but Jason could see that while she obviously was attracted to him, she was not warm and affectionate with Jesse. Now, to see her with David, it was extremely affectionate, but Jason couldn't determine if it was friendly or much more than that. His temper was rising slightly to see his daughter hold on to the older man. He wondered if they had been intimate. What sicko would have a sexual relationship with a woman more than half his age?!
He strode over quickly and took Laura's arm, forcing a smile as he coaxed her out of David's arms; suddenly sorry he had agreed that he and Laura would join him for dinner.
"We should head back to the house Laura. David invited us over for dinner."
Once again Laura was hit with a flare of anger. David was continually putting her in an awkward position with her father. And she could pick up on her father's reaction; she could see he was questioning their relationship.
As they made their way to the house, the ride was quiet with unasked questions and puzzling thoughts. Laura took a deep breath and released it slowly.
"Dad, I...."
"I wont ask, and don't really want to know, Laura. You are a grown woman, and can make your own choices. Your happiness is all I care about. Both guys seem very nice and genuinely care about you."
The whole statement was forced. The truth was Jason cared greatly about what was going on and what she was thinking, but the thought of her telling him she was in love with or had an intimate relationship with David made his stomach turn. What was funny was that had Laura not been his daughter, he would have been extremely jealous of David. But since it was his daughter, he just thought the man a sick bastard.
"Dad, I am coming home in a few days. I wont continue a relationship with anyone long distance, or right now for that matter. Finishing my degree is the only thing on my mind right now."
"Well I am glad you have your priorities straight."
Her phone rang and she answered it without looking. She should have checked because it was Jesse. He asked about the fishing trip. In usual fashion on the island he knew who they had gone out with. Jesse wanted to talk. He wanted to know where he stood.
"I cant right now, Jesse. And Dad made plans for us to eat dinner with David. Can I see you tomorrow?"
"That's fine." He hung up and from his response she knew he was hurt.
It only made her angry. It hadn't been her decision to go out on 'Envious.' Her jaw clenched; she was growing quite tired of being the hot potato between the two men.
"I take it Jesse was none to happy?"
"Dad don't, please."
Jason just shrugged. There was no point. He and his daughter had always been close, closer than most fathers and daughters, but it was on her doing. She would talk to him or tell him when she was ready, and no questions or prying would bring it about sooner.
They took showers and Laura got some of her leftovers out to try and clean out the fridge. Jason came out of the bedroom cussing.
"I will need to leave first thing in the morning. There are some issues with the estate settlement. I just don't understand how complicated this is turning out to be."
Laura sighed; she should have been the one handling all of this for him. Jason saw the look on her face. He knew what she was thinking.
"No way in hell sweetie. You will have to deal with all of it when I die. I wouldn't force you to go through it twice." He laughed.
She kissed his cheek and rubbed his back. "We should head over, Daddy."
Laura's eyes went wide when they walked over, the familiar red Camero was parked in David's drive. Jason shot her a look, but Laura said nothing.
Upstairs they found David and Maria both in the kitchen, a glass of wine sat waiting on Laura.
"Jason, I didn't know what you would prefer to drink."
"Bourbon if you have it, please."
As David poured him a drink, Laura made introductions. She wasn't sure if Maria had just dropped by or if David knew she would be there, but suddenly Laura relaxed. Having Maria join them seemed to ease some of the tension.
During dinner they talked about the fishing trip and Laura returning to college. Maria talked about a new job she had on the island and that she would be staying for a month. David obviously offered his home, but she said her business put her up in a very nice house in Corolla near the business that she would be working at.
Jason and Maria talked about the settlement of the estate, and Laura learned that Maria had been married, but her husband had died only two years later in a car accident. There was still pain in her voice when she talked about him. They had been high school sweethearts and after his death Maria sank everything into her career.
After dinner, the two men went onto the deck to enjoy cigars and Maria took the time to talk to Laura. Maria just knew that Laura was good for David. In three weeks she had seen a sizable difference in her long time friend. She didn't want Laura to hurt him, and more than that, she wanted the younger woman to recognize the feelings that were there. Even Maria could see the affection in Laura's eyes.
"So you are leaving Sunday?"
"Yeah, sadly. I could use another week. I even checked with the rental company, but the house is booked."
"I am sure David would let you stay here."
"I don't think that would be a good idea." Laura didn't know what Maria knew. Truth was the idea had crossed Laura's mind as well, but she didn't want to impose, and honestly thought it might truly be a bad idea.
Maria turned to look at Laura, giving the younger girl a knowing, and caring glare. "Laura, he really does care about you. I haven't seen him so happy. I've never seen him fret over a woman. They come and go and he just carries on, but with you it is different."
Laura stared at her; she didn't know what to say. She knew Maria and David were intimate, yet here she was talking to Laura about a relationship with him. She was a deer caught in headlights.
Seeing Laura's shocked expression, Maria decided to clarify things.
"Yes, he and I are...or rather, were sexually intimate. But that changed when he met you. He means the world to me, Laura, but neither of us is meant to be together. We have what we have. I want him to be happy; to meet someone that will be there every morning and evening; not just for a few fleeting days."
Laura stammered. "And what on earth makes you think that I am that woman?"
"Cause hun, I can see it in both of your eyes. Ya'll are both troubled by the relationship, and the future, but there is no denying what your eyes say when you stare at each other. Eyes are the window to the soul."
Laura just turned away and wiped the counter for the fifth time. "I don't know Maria."
"Stay another week. Take time to at least find out. Laura, you don't want to miss the chance to be truly happy hun. It makes the nights long."
Maria picked up her wine glass and walked out to join the men, leaving Laura to digest her words, and to wrestle with her emotions. She did want to stay another week, but she wasn't sure if it was just for David.
While the women cleaned up David and Jason sat in silence for a long time just enjoying the warm evening air and the cherry flavour of the cigars, it was Jason that spoke up first.
